Description

Germany are one of the most successful football nations in the world. In separate guises as West & East Germany and then as simply Germany after the countries' reunification in 1990, they have regularly competed in the latter stages of major international tournaments. Their first World Cup win was as West Germany in 1954, defeating the well-regarded Hungary team of Ferenc Puskas, and though they lost the final to England in 1966 they claimed glory on home soil in 1974 courtesy of a 2-1 win over the Netherlands. Defeats in the finals of 1982 (Italy) and 1986 (Argentina) followed before the legendary figure of Franz Beckenbauer masterminded victory in Italy in 1990. In 2014 a goal by Mario Gotze clinched their fourth World Cup. Germany have also won the European Championship on three occasions, most recently in 1996. Their most famous players include Gerd Muller, Franz Beckenbauer, Harald Schumacher, Karl-Heinz Rummenigge, Lothar Matthaus, Jurgen Klinsmann, Rudi Voller, Oliver Kahn, Philipp Lahm, Toni Kroos and Bastian Schweinsteiger. Their domestic league, the Bundesliga, is one of the most popular in Europe and is dominated by Bayern Munich, who regularly compete with the likes of Borussia Dortmund and Schalke for the title.